MICRONAUTS BACK AT DEVIL'S DUE

**MattBrady** · 10-09-2003, 03:13 PM

It ended, it left, and now it’s back. Adding another layer to the editorial changes coming in 2004 for Devil’s Due is the re-addition of Micronauts to the publisher’s lineup with Dan Jolley and Pat Broderick as the new series creative team. Newsarama spoke with the majors for more.

To cut it off at the knees from the start, yeah, even Devil’s Due President Josh Blaylock knew the series wasn’t working as well as they had hoped during its 11 issue run. “Frankly the story moved along way too slow in the beginning, and it didn't help that it was a bimonthly series,” Blaylock said. “I also think it took a little too long for the team the book is named after to form. The ‘Micronauts’ don't really become the Micronauts until the second story arc.

”We really needed to do something to get some attention on the book, but were preparing for the departure from Image at the same time. Since things were hectic on our end, and the book needed tweaking anyway, I suggested the best thing to do was to put it on hiatus and relaunch it when we went solo. They didn't really want to wait that long, and took some time to think about it. In the meantime, we had no choice but to put it on hold and keep quiet until a decision was made. Fortunately, it's definitely back in our hands now, and ready to get down to some action packed stories.”

In the intervening time, discussions showed up n the company’s messageboard, Future Comics were considering adding the Micronauts to their stable, but ultimately declined to pick it up, something that kept the door open for Devil’s Due to return to publishing the series.

So yes, that means that there will be a new Micronauts #1, and the story will start and head in a direction that will be very reader friendly, Blaylock said. “You won't have to have read the previous issues to enjoy the story. The team is together, and ready to function as the Micronauts, causing trouble for the evil empire of Karza and all of the other would-be despots in the Micro universe. They'll also be interacting with Earth on a regular basis, which Dan Jolley and Steve Kurth pulled off brilliantly in issues 8-11.”

And as has been revealed as well – while the property was being considered by Future, Pat Broderick became attached to it. Blaylock was very happy to confirm that the artist will still be attached to the property when it relaunches at Devil’s Due.

“Pat is returning to the property for the first time in years, as he was one of the artists who worked on the series back when Marvel was publishing it,” Blaylock said. “While we're trying to make this book appealing to everyone, Pat will definitely help pull in a lot of the loyal Micro fans.”

As for the bouncing around that the property underwent and the securing of Broderick before landing again at Devil’s Due, Blaylock said that at that time, their hands were completely off of it. “Honestly, all of that happened and was done with before we really even knew what was happening. The Licensors had discussed it with Pat, and he and Future Comics had some dealings or communications about it thereafter. I think they were thinking about it for a brief moment, viewing their options, and in the end decided it was best the property stay with Devil's Due. They're also excited about our new independent status, and excited about what we have planned for the new direction.”

In explaining his moves, Broderick said it just came down to his love of the property and characters. “I consider myself very lucky to return to the property,” Broderick said. “Future is going through some growing pains right now and it became apparent that they would not be able to produce the book so I opted to remain with the property.”

As was mentioned above, Dan Jolley will return to the series as well – although the writer never really considered himself to be “off” the book. “When Josh called to let everyone working on the book know that he was going to have to put it on hiatus, he told us that he'd really like to bring it back later on if he could; he went so far as to say issue #11 would be the best place to break it off, since the script for issue #12 -- which I'd just finished -- could serve as an excellent jumping-on point for new readers,” Jolley said. “Additionally, #12 was the first issue I'd done which I felt was truly ‘mine,’ in that I wasn't dealing with events and situations and requirements set up before I came on board with issue #6. I was pretty peeved that, as soon as I got to start doing what I really wanted to do, the series went away. So I just hung back and watched carefully through all the rigmarole with Future Comics, and once that was over and the title came back to the newly-independent Devil's Due, I was all over it.”

Jolley reiterated Blaylock’s statement that the new series will be new reader friendly as well. “It's going to follow in the same continuity set up in the Image/Devil's Due series, but there will have been a substantial amount of time that's passed between the events of issue #11 and the new issue #1,” the writer said. “People just picking up the title won't need to know anything from the first series to enjoy it, but returning readers will recognize the setup and the characters.”

Blaylock: “Issue #11 had such a great solid ending with which to launch this new book that we didn't want to change much. Our biggest concerns are to make sure that every issue gets down to action, and balances it with the right amount of character development, and that it's always fairly accessible to new readers.

”The character Ryan Archer is finally ready to lead this team, he's proven he's a threat to Karza, and Acroyear, Knave, Koriah and the androids are ready to follow him into danger. It's really fun stuff, handled by the best scribe to enter the comic scene in a long time.

”I'd personally love to cross over our Micronauts with the Micronauts of yesteryear, but I think fans will have to express their interest and support this series for that to happen.”

Backing up to give the big picture of the new series, Blaylock said that basically, Micronauts will tell the story of “after” – that is after Karza was deposed as the absolute ruler. “Persephone, his daughter who betrayed the Micronauts at the last moment in a surprise gesture of loyalty to her father, is trying to hold together the pieces, but other galactic tyrants are trying to cease the day,” Blaylock explained. “Fans of the toys will recognize a lot of these other evil ‘Commanders and Barons.’

”We've also put a spin on the old ‘world invasion’ story, and left Earth in quite a shamble. Just because the ‘witch is dead’ doesn't mean there aren't ramifications to deal with. Karza killed millions of people, and that's going to have an effect on society. Many of our major cities were converted into alien structures. You can bet the governments of the world are going to scoop all of that up and lock it away for some interesting experiments.

“The Micronauts will be caught between keeping peace in their universe, while helping restore Earth to its former glory.”

The slightly different approach to the traditional Micronauts story will allow Jolley to try a slightly different approach in storytelling as well. “I'm trying something in this series that I've never done before: I'm basically approaching it as if it were a half-hour animated TV series,” Jolley said. “Every twelve issues will constitute a ‘season,’ of sorts, with a larger over-arcing storyline; at the same time, each one will stand on its own, presenting a story that has a beginning, middle, and end. Every issue will be designed to present everything a reader needs to know to understand the situation and the characters; every issue should be as accessible as it's possible for a comic book to be.”

As for some details of the storyline itself – well, what do you think he would say?

“I don't want to give too much away, but I will mention two things. First, on top of the sci-fi action, we'll be throwing in a bit of political intrigue, thanks to the new regime in place in the microcosm; Baron Karza, the super-tech tyrant who used to rule the microscopic universe, has been forced into exile, and his daughter Persephone has had to step up to try take his place,” Jolley said. “She hasn't succeeded, though, and now the microcosm is fractured into a number of warring factions, each headed by a recognizable Micro character - Atlas, the Green Baron, and others. Second, the Micronauts will be visiting Earth pretty regularly; they won't be there in every issue, but we are going to establish that traveling to and from Earth becomes a necessity -- since Earth seems to be where Baron Karza is hiding, biding his time and gathering strength before reclaiming his throne. The whole setup is really exciting, and I can't wait to dig into the challenge of it.”

Meanwhile, Broderick is having fun getting to know the characters again after a 20 year break. “It took about a week to acquaint my self with the characters, but I was pleased to find that they’re still there,” Broderick said. “ I think by the response on the message boards that the fans still think ‘I got it.’ The good thing about coming back is I bring a lot more experience with me from advertising, promotion, and animation, so expect to be impressed. The look will be a lot more cinematic.”

According to Blaylock, Broderick will be on the series for at least the first story arc. “If he’s having fun after that, I foresee him in it for the long haul,” Blaylock said.

Micronauts #1 is scheduled for a March release.

Mr. Looper · 10-09-2003, 03:24 PM

I can't wait until the nostalgia craze has passed by. So much crap out there, so many better comics to put my money into.

This is easily passed on!

starvenger · 10-09-2003, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Looper
I can't wait until the nostalgia craze has passed by. So much crap out there, so many better comics to put my money into.

This is easily passed on!

There's nothing wrong with nostalgia, but let's be honest - Micronauts does not have the legs that Transformers or G.I.Joe has to keep on going...

cyclopsfan · 10-09-2003, 03:38 PM

I got all of the current run, and honestly do not expect to be back for the new one. Not all the nostalgia books are bad. For me, transformers thundercats and micronaught have run their course. I still LOVE the G.I. Joe series and the Voltron one as well.

stalker101 · 10-09-2003, 03:53 PM

This just shows how many different tastes are out there..i personally have enjoyed this series so far...i am curious if those who shun it even gave it a chance to begin with...i hear people shun titles like this saying its crap and then go off and read every single X book out on the market like they are all the wholly grail or something..and then ask them if they read books like powers or alias and its a resonding no.....its a a shame really..i'm not innocent in this myself..i have shunned books and then missed out on some really great books that i end up finding out about in trades...So some of us do like the micronauts and yes its a licenced book..but it never had a cartoon ..it only had a small toy line and a old marvel book...how is this different than say the x-men with movies..cartoons and toys out there for that? Not much the way i see it...so please dont lump a book into a catagory of crap just because its had a toy line out...

Krishna Sadasivam · 10-09-2003, 04:31 PM

I picked up the first few issues of the Devil's Due Micronaut series, but quickly tired of the slow-paced storyline. At roughly $3.00 an issue, it was a relatively painless decision to drop the book.

I wish Devil's Due the best with their relaunch, but I won't be around for the ride.

Krishna

dollman · 10-09-2003, 04:31 PM

I was around when Marvel was publishing the Micronauts, through the fablous Mike Golden era, then Pat Broderick. I gave up on the series right around the time it sold only through comic shops, and off the newstands. It was around this time that the story arc featured the return of Baron Karza from the dead, and I realized that the series was really one-dimensional...without Karza, the writers couldn't craft good stories around these characters.

Still, I picked up the first issue of the Image run with an open mind, and found I really couldn't go home again...at least not with these characters. No Commander Rann, no Marionette, no interest from me.

Chad Anderson · 10-09-2003, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Looper
I can't wait until the nostalgia craze has passed by. So much crap out there, so many better comics to put my money into.

Without nostalgia, the American comic-book industry would collapse.

Pariah · 10-09-2003, 05:10 PM

Can anyone give a very short synopsis of the premise behind the Micronauts? The only dealings I've had were in the mid-90's Cable cameo.

Thanks.

Krishna Sadasivam · 10-09-2003, 05:22 PM

Here's a useful site that has each issue summarized. Site design wise, it's hard on the eyes, but it does have lots of good Micronaut info.

Krishna

Mr Wesley · 10-09-2003, 05:37 PM

Quote:

“Persephone, his daughter who betrayed the Micronauts at the last moment in a surprise gesture of loyalty to her father, is trying to hold together the pieces, but other galactic tyrants are trying to cease the day ,” Blaylock explained.

Not to pick nits, but it's "Seize the day." Kind of a different meaning from "Cease the day," don't you know.

(Although, now that I look at it, both could apply.)

Gordon McAlpin · 10-09-2003, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chad Anderson
Without nostalgia, the American comic-book industry would collapse.

Yeah, seriously!

And what, Superman doesn't count as a "nostalgia" book just because it's been continuously published?

RAMWolff · 10-09-2003, 08:29 PM

I am SO looking forward to this relaunch. I am a Pat Broderick fan from WAY back when and I think this is going to be a really fun ride!!

Richard

BuckySinister · 10-09-2003, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starvenger
There's nothing wrong with nostalgia, but let's be honest - Micronauts does not have the legs that Transformers or G.I.Joe has to keep on going...

It's a generational thing. When people started talking about the Devil's Due relaunch of Micronauts as part of the "80s nostalgia boom", I couldn't help but laugh. Marvel's Micronauts comic, like the toy line it was based on, hit American shelves as an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of Star Wars. A zillion space operas were launched in 1977 and '78, and Micronauts was one of them. As such, it's distinctly a product of the 70s (as any cursory glance at the first year of the book will tell you).

But that's neither here nor there. If, like me, you were nine years old when Micronauts debuted, you'd think the series had a lot better legs than Transformers. NOTHING has better legs than GI Joe, of course; my DAD played with GI Joes. But Micronauts definitely had a better comic than either of them, offering readers a fairly complex, widescreen-style sci-fi epic. As someone else stated earlier, the series always lost its way when Baron Karza wasn't around. There's a year or so in the middle of the run that's absolutely unreadable, in fact. But when Karza was around... it was the equal of just about anything on the stands at the time.

The new series hasn't been as good (except for the Karza mini-series). It got off to a painfully slow start, but things picked up dramatically when Dan Jolley came on. It still has its problems, but I'll be picking up the new series when it comes out. I'm looking forward to seeing what Jolley's capable of when he's doing his own thing.

But then again, the Micronauts were my favorite toys ever, so I'm probably biased...

MicroZone · 10-09-2003, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr. Looper
I can't wait until the nostalgia craze has passed by. So much crap out there, so many better comics to put my money into.

This is easily passed on!

So buy the comics you enjoy and let others buy what they enjoy. How hard is that for you to grasp? Ass.

MicroZone · 10-09-2003, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by starvenger
There's nothing wrong with nostalgia, but let's be honest - Micronauts does not have the legs that Transformers or G.I.Joe has to keep on going...

Of course Transformers and GI Joe are only "nostalgia" to people that only pay attention to comic books. Guess what? Plenty of people had no idea Batman was still around after the 60s TV series was cancelled and was amazed to see him "return" in the first movie with Michael Keaton. It's called perspective. Just like Batman, the stories for both TF and Joe has run for two decades with little interruption. But because people weren't being beaten over the head with TV ads they forgot about it. The real fans however did not. They are not just reliving their youth, they never stopped watching the TV series and buying the toys and books. Comics are just a little bit of gravy.

davefink · 10-10-2003, 12:11 AM

Wow! This is awesome news...finally! But some of these responses so far are discouraging...

Well, for any old school fans of Pat Broderick and/or the Marvel Micronauts series, this is fantastic. So to psyche you guys up a little, check out some of what Pat has been working on to gear up for the new series:

http://www.innerspaceonline.com/

The problems with the Micronauts are old news. Everyone, from Palisades Toys to Devil's Due, has lived and learned. Some of us "older" fans kinda chalk it up to the nostalgia thing being a little too late...the Micros were a 70's property, not an 80's one. And it's sad to see that they were lumped into that category.

But we got cool new toys, and the start of a cool new comic. I think with Pat on board now, the art will be launched into the stratosphere, and this will definitely put the Micros back on top. Please check out some of his art on the site, and you'll see for yourself...
Dave W

Krishna Sadasivam · 10-10-2003, 12:24 AM

Pat's art does look mighty impressive. I'll give the book another chance, what the hey.

Krishna

brazilgilliam · 10-10-2003, 09:43 AM

I loved the Nauts since the original issues and I'd like to think I gave the new series a chance but it just doesn't do it for me. It's too formulaic, and not enough new material to keep me interested. I'm considering dropping this book but I'm still hopeful that they can turn it around.

Just A Pilgrim · 10-10-2003, 10:01 AM

Great news so far as i'm concerned. Faintly remembered the old marvel comic's but I never really was into it, at that age i was strictly spider-man, x-men or avengers, but when i saw the new series i was instantly curious. Truth be told the 1st arc of the new stuff was less than i had hoped for, but I still found it engaging enough to keep around. The book took a marked turn for the better once Jolley came on board though. This last invasion of earth story arc has been stellar. Kinda sucked that just as it was coming into it's own the plug got yanked, so this is outstanding news for me.

Quote:

I can't wait until the nostalgia craze has passed by. So much crap out there, so many better comics to put my money into.

Damn Looper, you go thru all the trouble to register and your first post ever at Newsarama (at least under this guise) is a total flippin flame job? Man what sort of pathetic loser are you? Heaven forbid that anyone else on earth might find something, that you don't happen to be into, entertaining. Rest easy though, i feel certain if i were to rumage thru your pile of comic goodies i could easily pick several duds out that i'd be ashamed to wipe my .... well let's just say yours aint all winners either.

Charles RB · 10-11-2003, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuckySinister
But Micronauts definitely had a better comic than either of them, offering readers a fairly complex, widescreen-style sci-fi epic.

So did Transformers UK, for the most part. Yes, we did get the occassional bit of crap, but there was a lot of good stuff in it- Return To Cybertron is a brilliant story showing us a Cybertron where the Decepticons have won and the Autobots have been driven underground, and it was not a nice place to live. The Smelting Pools traumatised a load of little kids...

utiti77 · 10-13-2003, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MattBrady

”I'd personally love to cross over our Micronauts with the Micronauts of yesteryear, but I think fans will have to express their interest and support this series for that to happen.”

I'd love to see it as well, but if that message board is any indication, nobody gives a damn.

The funniest thing about that "Nostalgia" thread is that Devil's Due's Micronauts is one of the *least* nostalgic titles out of this category. Marvel has cunningly kept the original Micronauts for themselves by renaming them Microns or something and altering their appearances so much. Thus, Devil's Due Micronauts have a totally different continuity and as such are pretty much a new book entirely.

And that's what bugs me since the beginning. I'd *love* to see more "real" Micronauts comics or at least comics using characters that would really look like the original Takara toys...

If that Micronauts/Microns crossover ever comes true, they should even add the japanese Microman into the mix. For those who don't know, Microman was the original name of Micronauts when they were created in Japan. They had a manga of their own which was recently republished by Million Publishing... Check out some pictures of Robotman, the Japanese counterpart of Biotron, at these pages, if you will :

http://www.rockettubes.net/rescuebas.../micmanga.html
http://www.microforever.com/microdesign.htm

u77

hondo · 10-14-2003, 02:47 AM

Micronauts is one of my very very very favorite titles ever. It's one of the best space operas ever.

I wish so hard that this could stay at Marvel using the same characters : Bug, Marionette, Commander Rann, Devil, and the Marvel characters they crossed over with FF, Nick Fury, Man-Thing, Hydra, the FF, the X-Men, etc.

I was painfully disappointed by this series as WAY too slow. I knew it was going to bomb out unfortunately.

I was hopeful when Dan Jolley became associated with it. I am really hoping that relaunching it again will be the trick. Having the great and underused Pat Broderick aboard will definitely help.

Devil's Due made a "Bug" - like character. Why not copies of the other original Marvel characters too like Devil so we could kind of sort of having the continuing adventures but not the identical chatacters. Kind of like Steve Canyon and Terry and the Pirates by Milt Caniff. Or the Katzenjammer Kids and The Captain and the Kids. Everyone knew they were thinly disguised copies of the original characters just published by a different syndicate. I think that would help too. I do like to see the team trying harder to develop more characters that were not developed from some of the toy lineup (which I never understood), hence the Barons and Commanders.

Any chance Michael Golden could be persuaded to do a special ? That might be just the boost this title would need.

I'll try again. There are few franchises I love enough to stick through almost anything but Micros is one of 'em. X-Men used to be but it exploded. Somehow I can't see a dozen Micro titles tho I was surprised but pleased at the Karza mini.

Fazhoul · 10-14-2003, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MicroZone
So buy the comics you enjoy and let others buy what they enjoy. How hard is that for you to grasp? Ass.

What? Dissenting views aren't allowed? He never said that no one should buy it. Just that it was easy for him to pass on.

I also loved the Marvel series but was unimpressed with the revival and I'm not sure that even the return of Pat Broderick will be enough to get me to pick it up again.

roadworrier · 10-18-2003, 01:44 AM

I started reading Micronauts at about issue number 7 of the great Michael Golden Marvels and acquired the back issues shortly thereafter.

I kind of enjoyed reading these last 11 Micronauts and the Karza series. After the first few issues I said I'd stop picking it up, but I kept buying it. The storry was nice and easy brainless fluff, a satisfying quick read compared with say Alan Moore's Promethea or League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I like the Moore more in the end, but reading something easy like the Grant Morrison X-Men or the Micronauts was sometimes just what I wanted when I started into this week's new comics.

Nobody ever was as good as Michael Golden, but Pat Broderick was an enjoyable artist I on the original series. I doubt he could get anywhere with his style from the 70's and 80's these days; I'll be interested to see what his new stuff is going to look like. I'll definitely try out the new comic.